Circulating miR-107 as a diagnostic biomarker of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture increases bone formation in vitro and in vivo.

Aims: This study aimed to examine the key circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in the plasma of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and assess their potential role as diagnostic biomarkers and explore their function in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was applied to identify hub miRNAs for subsequent analysis. The candidate miRNAs were tested using plasma from 144 patients and the results were applied to construct receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to assess their diagnostic value.

Effect of Particle Size Ratios on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Surgical-Grade Calcium Sulfate Hemihydrate.

Objectives: To analyze the optimum particle size or formula ratio of surgical-grade calcium sulfate (CS) for appropriate compressive strength, setting time, and vitro degradation rate.

Methods: Three types of calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH) particles with diameters of 0-37.5 μm, 37.

Long-term Results Comparing Cervical Disc Arthroplasty to Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: Whether cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA) is superior to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) remains controversial, especially in relation to long-term results. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term safety and efficiency of CDA and ACDF for cervical disc disease.

Methods: We performed this study according to the Cochrane methodology.

Effects of Ho:YAG Laser Ablation on Postoperative Low Back Pain and Functional Status After Transforaminal Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: Minimum of 2-Year Follow-Up.

Objective: To evaluate effects of holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser ablation on postoperative low back pain and improving functional status in patients with lumbar disc herniation undergoing transforaminal endoscopic lumbar discectomy (TELD).

Methods: The study enrolled 220 patients with lumbar disc herniation who underwent TELD or TELD with Ho:YAG laser from August 2015 to September 2016. Parameters including operative time, hospitalization, complications, and recurrence were recorded.

Long Noncoding RNA MPRL Promotes Mitochondrial Fission and Cisplatin Chemosensitivity via Disruption of Pre-miRNA Processing.

Purpose: The overall biological roles and clinical significance of most long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) in chemosensitivity are not fully understood. We investigated the biological function, mechanism, and clinical significance of lncRNA NR_034085, which we termed miRNA processing-related lncRNA (MPRL), in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC).

Experimental Design: LncRNA expression in TSCC cell lines with cisplatin treatment was measured by lncRNA microarray and confirmed in TSCC tissues.

Posterior Cervical Foraminotomy Via Full-Endoscopic Versus Microendoscopic Approach for Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Recently posterior cervical foraminotomy (PCF) performed using a minimally-invasive surgery (MIS) approach for cervical radiculopathy due to lateral disc herniation or osseous foraminal stenosis has gained popularity. As 2 dominating MIS techniques, whether FE-PCF or MI-PCF provides superior clinical outcomes remains controversial.

Objectives: To compare clinical success rate, overall incidence of complications and reoperation rate between full-endoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy (FE-PCF) and microendoscopic posterior cervical foraminotomy (MI-PCF) for cervical radiculopathy.

Mitochondrial miRNA Determines Chemoresistance by Reprogramming Metabolism and Regulating Mitochondrial Transcription.

miRNAs that translocate from the nucleus to mitochondria are referred to as mitochondrial microRNAs (mitomiR). mitomiRs have been shown to modulate the translational activity of the mitochondrial genome, yet their role in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transcription remains to be determined. Here we report that the mitomiR-2392 regulates chemoresistance in tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) cells by reprogramming metabolism via downregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and upregulation of glycolysis.

Full-Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy for Lumbar Disc Herniation with Posterior Ring Apophysis Fracture: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: The present retrospective study evaluated the clinical results of full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy (FELD) for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with lumbar posterior ring apophysis fracture (PRAF) using an interlaminar or a transforaminal approach at an inpatient surgery center.

Methods: Patients with single-level LDH with type III PRAF who had undergone FELD using an interlaminar or a transforaminal approach from January 2010 to December 2015 were enrolled. The general data recorded included sex, age, location, surgical approach, operative time, hospital stay, perioperative complications, and recurrence.

Stand-Alone Anterolateral Interbody Fusion Versus Extended Posterior Fusion for Symptomatic Adjacent-Segment Degeneration: A Retrospective Study of 2 Years' Follow-up.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic outcome of stand-alone anterolateral lumbar interbody fusion (ALLIF) using self-locked cages in comparison with extended posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) for symptomatic adjacent-segment degeneration (ASD) after posterior lumbar fusion.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 40 symptomatic patients with ASD who were treated with ALLIF (n = 13) or extended PLIF (n = 27) between January 2011 and January 2015. Evaluations were performed preoperatively, at 3, 12, and 24 months postoperatively.

Early Experience of Full-Endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy for Adolescent Lumbar Disc Herniation with Sciatic Scoliosis.

Background: Full-endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (FEID) has achieved satisfactory outcome in adolescent lumbar disc herniation (ALDH). Sciatic scoliosis is found to be a common presentation in ALDH. However, few reports are focused on the influences of sciatic scoliosis on ALDH and the prognosis of sciatic scoliosis after FEID.

Familial lumbar Scheuermann disease with idiopathic scoliosis in China: First case report.

Rationale: Given that Scheuermann disease rarely occurs in the lumbar region and that the co-occurrence of Scheuermann disease and idiopathic scoliosis (IS) has not been reported-the etiology of Scheuermann disease and IS is not clear. In this case report, we present familaiar lumbar Scheuermann disease with IS, in a Chinese proband, who was successfully treated with surgery.

Patient Concerns: A 16-year-old boy presented at the Second XiangYa Hospital of Central South University with a chief complaint of kyphotic deformity in the lower back for 4 years and obvious lower back pain.

MiR-140/BDNF axis regulates normal human astrocyte proliferation and LPS-induced IL-6 and TNF-α secretion.

Reactive astrocyte proliferation after spinal cord injury (SCI) contributes to glial scar formation that impedes axonal regeneration. The mechanisms underlying astrocyte proliferation upon injury remain partially understood. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as a major class of post-transcriptional gene expression regulators that participate in many biological processes.

Clinical Outcome of Full-endoscopic Interlaminar Discectomy for Single-level Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Minimum of 5-year Follow-up.

Background: Full-endoscopic interlaminar discectomy (FEID) is widely applied for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and satisfactory short-term outcomes have been achieved. However, the long-term evaluation for this technique is still lacking, especially the comparison between FEID and microendoscopic discectomy (MED).

Objective: To evaluate the clinical outcome of FEID technique in comparison with MED for single-level LDH with a minimum of 5-year follow-up.

Amorphous ZnO Quantum Dot/Mesoporous Carbon Bubble Composites for a High-Performance Lithium-Ion Battery Anode.

Due to its high theoretical capacity (978 mA h g), natural abundance, environmental friendliness, and low cost, zinc oxide is regarded as one of the most promising anode materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). A lot of research has been done in the past few years on this topic. However, hardly any research on amorphous ZnO for LIB anodes has been reported despite the fact that the amorphous type could have superior electrochemical performance due to its isotropic nature, abundant active sites, better buffer effect, and different electrochemical reaction details.

Characterization of FRM-36143 as a new γ-secretase modulator for the potential treatment of familial Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD) is caused by mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) or presenilin (PS). Most PS mutations, which account for the majority of FAD cases, lead to an increased ratio of longer to shorter forms of the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide. The therapeutic rationale of γ-secretase modulators (GSMs) for Alzheimer's disease is based on this genetic evidence as well as on enzyme kinetics measurements showing changes in the processivity of the γ-secretase complex.

Concentration-response relationship of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist FRM-17874 across multiple in vitro and in vivo assays.

Pharmacological activation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7 nAChRs) may improve cognition in schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. The present studies describe an integrated pharmacological analysis of the effects of FRM-17874, an analogue of encenicline, on α7 nAChRs in vitro and in behavioral and neurophysiological assays relevant to cognitive function. FRM-17874 demonstrated high affinity binding to human α7 nAChRs, displacing [(3)H]-methyllacaconitine (Ki=4.

Modulation of γ-secretase by EVP-0015962 reduces amyloid deposition and behavioral deficits in Tg2576 mice.

Background: A hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the presence of senile plaques in human brain primarily containing the amyloid peptides Aβ42 and Aβ40. Many drug discovery efforts have focused on decreasing the production of Aβ42 through γ-secretase inhibition. However, identification of γ-secretase inhibitors has also uncovered mechanism-based side effects.

Characterization of alkaline phosphatase labeled UidA(Gus) probe and its application in testing of transgenic tritordeum.

Hybridization is a very important molecular biology technique to measure the degree of genetic similarity between DNA sequences, and detect the foreign genes in transgenic organisms. To label a DNA or RNA probe plays a key role in hybridization. A method using nonradioactive material alkaline phosphatase to label UidA(Gus) DNA as probe has been studied.

Isolation and heterologous transformation analysis of a pollen-specific promoter from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The promoter of a pollen-specific gene TaPSG719 was isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by inverse-PCR (IPCR). Sequence analysis revealed that the promoter contains two cis-acting elements (AGAAA and GTGA) known to confer anther/pollen-specific gene expression which suggests that the promoter of TaPSG719 gene is a pollen-specific one.

2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside (THSG) induces melanogenesis in B16 cells by MAP kinase activation and tyrosinase upregulation.

Aims: The 2, 3, 5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-beta-D-glucoside (THSG), a water-soluble active component extracted from dried tuber root of Polygonum multiflorum, has been found to induce pigmentation in B16 cells, but the details of the underlying mechanism remain unknown. The present study was conducted to investigate the mechanism of stimulatory effect of THSG on melanogenesis using B16F1 melanoma cells.

Main Methods: Several experiments were performed in B16F1 melanoma cells.

[Application of enzyme-labeled probe in testing of transgenic plant].

Used alkaline-phosphatase-labeled DNA as a probe to examine the expression of foreign UidA gene in transgenic plants. Alkaline phosphatase coupled with polyethyleneimine (PEI) using P-benzoquine as the cross-linking reagent was covalently linked to single-stranded DNA via glutraldehyde. Such DNA-enzyme complexes were used as a probe for dot hybridization and Southern blot.

The comparison of twinning rates between urban and rural areas in China.

Based on the birth record data from the National Vital Statistics in the 1990 Census of China, the present study analyzed the differences between urban and rural areas on monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin rates by maternal age in 1989. The twins by zygosity were calculated with Weinberg's differential method. Results show that the MZ and DZ twinning rates in China were associated with maternal age and that there were substantial differences between urban and rural areas.

The application of alkaline phosphatase labeled HBV probe in serum detection.

A method using non-radioactive material alkaline phosphatase to label HBV DNA as probe has been studied and used in clinical experiments to detect the HBV DNA in hepatitis serum. Alkaline phosphatase coupled with polyethyleneimine (PEI) using P-benzoquine as cross-linking reagent. The modified phosphatase was covalently linked to single strand DNA using glutraldehyde.